Causes of Poor Turf Grass
The causes of poor turf vary but generally come down to one simple idea: the relationship between the natural and synthetic (or man-made) environmental stressors with regard to plant tissue.
You already know that environment determines plant health. If a plant experiences a natural or man-made environmental stressor, it will react by detecting the stimulus (i.e. high temperatures, dehydration) and then physiologically adapting to it. A plant will wilt, for example, in response to dehydration; the act of wilting protects the plant tissue from further damage.
If the plant experiences ongoing stress, it will make an adaptive response for as long as possible until fatigue results . . . leading ultimately to death.
Natural environmental stressors include:
- Ambient temperature
- Soil temperature
- Light / shade
- Rainfall / drought
- Seasons
- Soil type
- Water quality
Uunnatural or man-made environmental stressors include:
- Mowing
- Vertical mowing
- Core aerification
- Compaction
- Irrigation management
- Toxic chemicals
- Over fertilization
An intensely managed surface, such as a golf green, is a stressful environment for plant tissue. Natural and man-made stressors, if managed incorrectly, can move the plant tissue away from optimal health — and thus compromise playing surfaces.
Based on our years of experience, every turf grass disease we see on a green, tee, or fairway is triggered by an environmental stressor — either natural or man-made. The key to treating poor turf lies in asking, “What is causing the turf to move away from its natural cell function?” versus “What label can I give this condition and then how do I treat it?”
Greenway’s approach to treating poor turf grass begins with asking what has caused the condition. This is a huge shift from what we’ve all been taught — which is to rely on expensive toxic chemicals to alleviate disease symptoms.
